Wehrlein to drive for Sauber in 2017 season

2016 Manor driver and Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein has signed a deal to drive for Sauber in the upcoming 2017 season.

Final details of the contract are still to be finalised, however this should be completed in the next couple of days.

Prior to this announcement, Wehrlein was a contender to replace former Mercedes driver and World Champion Nico Rosberg, who announced his retirement shortly after securing the title.

Now that the German is set to drive for Sauber, 2016 Williams driver Valtteri Bottas is very likely to replace Rosberg and drive alongside Lewis Hamilton, with reports stating that he has already had his seat fitting with the team, and has made a visit to the Mercedes factory just before Christmas.

The confirmation of a change of drivers from Sauber, Mercedes and Williams will mean that Manor is the only team left on the grid who has not made an announcement about 2017 drivers – but it is understood that they have having talks with potential investors, with links made with ex-Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez, 2016 Manor driver Rio Haryanto and Felipe Nasr, whose seat at Sauber has been taken by Wehrlein.